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A Dune sequel would be far stranger than Dune Part One

If they get to make Dune Part Two that is

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Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune 2020 Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures
Austen Goslin (he/him) is an entertainment editor. He writes about the latest TV shows and movies, and particularly loves all things horror.

Denis Villenueve’s Dune ends on a pretty major cliffhanger — just like you might expect from something with “Part 1” in the title screen. But while this movie’s already really good, it’s also really slow and contemplative and doesn’t technically have much action. That won’t be a problem for Dune Part 2 — supposing director Denis Villeneuve gets a chance to make it.

If Dune were a superhero movie, maybe it would have a post-credits scene that would hint at the future, but it does not. So, if you can’t wait the two or more years it may take to get Dune Part 2, and you just have to know now, here’s what the sequel will be about if it ever happens.

[Ed. note: This story contains spoilers for Dune Part 1 and almost certainly spoilers for a Dune sequel.]

Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother join the Fremen, and Paul quickly unites the Fremen tribes as their fabled messiah. He eventually begins leading raids against the Harkonnen’s spice production fields, almost completely stalling their operation on Arrakis. Paul also gets much closer to Chani (Zendaya), who takes on a bigger role in the story and Paul’s life.

Meanwhile, Paul’s mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) undergoes process of becoming a Reverend Mother of the Fremen by drinking the Water of Life. Jessica survives drinking the toxic liquid, and gains the memories of all of her genetic foremothers. However, since she neglected to mention that she was pregnant, Paul’s unborn sister Alia gains that knowledge too. When Alia is born shortly after, she is already as intelligent as an adult, and has seen the experiences of her female ancestors.

With Paul cutting significantly into the galaxy’s supply of spice, the Emperor himself has no choice but the join his forces with Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsg?rd) to try to kill Paul and wipe out the Fremen, resulting a massive battle. We won’t give the complete ending away here, and you’ll just have to wait for the movie to find out (hopefully). Or just read the book!

While there’s no official word from Warner Bros. just yet, the latest reports do seem optimistic that a sequel will actually happen. But at the moment, it’s still unclear if Paul, Jessica, and Chani will return to the screen.

Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Rebecca Furguson as Lady Jessica Atreides stand in the desert on the set of Denis Villenueve’s Dune.

Dune on HBO Max

The epic sci-fi saga arrives to HBO Max for subscribers for free starting Oct. 21.

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